LEGO SUPER HEROES are coming!

You may have heard the news by now! Scheduled for 2012, LEGO is releasing two new licensed themes under the name; LEGO SUPER HEROES. The licenses are with DC Comics from Warner Brothers and Marvel Comics from Marvel Entertainment.

Here are the press-releases with all the exciting details!

➡ MARVEL PRESS-RELEASE:

Two of the world’s most iconic brands are joining forces as The LEGO Group, world leader in high quality construction toys, and Marvel Entertainment, LLC, a global character -based entertainment company, announced a wide ranging strategic licensing deal. Through the multi-year agreement starting as of January 1st, 2012, Marvel has granted LEGO Group the rights to develop a distinct Marvel branded construction toy collection — LEGO SUPER HEROES — which will bring the characters, vehicles and action of Marvel’s renowned universe to the world of LEGO build-and-play adventure. The LEGO SUPER HEROES Marvel collection’s initial construction sets, minifigures and buildable characters are scheduled to launch in May of 2012.

The LEGO SUPER HEROES Marvel collection will spotlight three Marvel franchises – Marvel’s The Avengers movie, and X-Men and Spider-Man classic characters. The LEGO Marvel’s The Avengers movie line brings such ever popular Marvel characters as Iron Man, The Hulk, CaptainAmerica, Thor, Hawkeye, Loki and Black Widow to LEGO minifigure form. The LEGO X-Men collection includes minifigure comic versions of Wolverine, Magneto, Nick Fury and Deadpool, while the LEGO Spider-Man sets offer minifigure comic versions of Spider-Man, and Doctor Octopus. The first buildable characters in the LEGO SUPER HEROES collection are highlighted by CaptainAmerica, The Hulk and Iron Man. Select figures will be unveiled in the LEGO booth (#2829) during Comic-Con International at theSan DiegoConvention CenterJuly 21-24.

“Our partnership with Marvel helps us continue to deliver some of the best and most constructible Super Hero stories of all time,” said Jill Wilfert, vice president, licensing and entertainment for The LEGO Group. “We’re thrilled to partner with Marvel to create creative, constructive play sets for builders, fans and collectors alike.”

Joann Mclaughlin, Executive Vice President Toys & Hardlines, Marvel Entertainment, commented, “The partnership with LEGO Group furthers Marvel’s strategy to align our brand with the best in class leaders across various industries who have the global marketing expertise and distribution clout to stand out in the retail environment. This deal solidifies the already robust presence of our characters and the overall Marvel brand in the ever important toy category.”

The retail debut of the Marvel-inspired LEGO SUPER HEROES collection is timed to coincide with the highly anticipated Summer 2012 blockbuster movie release of Marvel Studios and Walt Disney Pictures feature film Marvel’s The Avengers.

➡ DC PRESS-RELEASE:

Warner Bros. Consumer Products (WBCP) with DC Entertainment (DCE) and The LEGO Group announced today the extension of their successful partnership to translate some of the world’s most popular DC Comics Super Heroes into the world of LEGO® build-and-play adventures with LEGO DC Universe SUPER HEROES. The multi-year licensing agreement grants the world leader in high quality construction toys access to the entire library of DC Comics characters and stories to inspire LEGO building fun. Construction sets, minifigures and buildable characters and creatures inspired by the universe of DC Comics are slated to launch in January 2012.

“We have enjoyed a successful, longstanding relationship with The LEGO Group and this agreement enables the vast universe of DC Comics to inspire an array of incredible offerings,” said Karen McTier, executive vice president, domestic licensing and worldwide marketing, Warner Bros. Consumer Products. “Fans of our legendary Super Heroes and villains will be delighted with the uniquely imaginative creations which only LEGO Group can create.”

The company will revisit their previous successful collections like LEGO BATMAN that also inspired the best-selling LEGO BATMAN: The Videogame, published by Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment, which has sold more than 12 million units worldwide since its launch in 2008.

“Given the fan enthusiasm for previous LEGO BATMAN collections, we couldn’t be more thrilled to continue the build-and-play adventures with new LEGO BATMAN play sets and the addition of other DC Comics properties,” said Jill Wilfert, vice president, licensing and entertainment for The LEGO Group. “This partnership gives builders a chance to recreate the characters, vehicles and worlds of some of the most iconic Super Heroes, so they can relive the action and even customize it – a proven and winning formula in LEGO construction.”

At San Diego Comic-Con, 3,000 exclusive Batman and Green Lantern LEGO minifigures will be distributed to kick off a promotion that will take place from August to December in advance of the launch. Fans are encouraged to use their collectible minifigures and existing LEGO collections to create original LEGO DC Universe SUPER HEROES adventures through video, photography or illustration, then share their submissions on www.LEGOSUPERHEROES.com.

Entrants have a chance to win monthly prizes or a grand prize trip to California for exclusive tours of Warner Bros. Studios, WB Animation and LEGOLAND California.

Exciting, isn’t it? To see photos of the new minifig prototypes from Comic Con, check here: LEGO SUPER HERO Minifigs at Comic Con. What do you think? Feel free to share your thoughts and discuss in the comment section below. 😉

I am very very very excited about this! I am a huge comic book fan, having read a lot during high school and college. Though superheroes weren’t my main focus, I did enjoy what I read. I am very hopeful that they’ll make Rogue – my favorite X-man. 😀

It is also interesting that LEGO was able to keep this a complete secret from fans! It seems that usually we get leaked info at least 6 months to a year in advance! 8)

Although I did read about some speculations/rumors that Batman was going to be back, but most people discounted it, and there was no real evidence. But that may have been a mis-interpreted leak about the SUPER HEROES line. 😉

Good job, LEGO! I’m impressed! It must be hard to keep stuff away from all of our spies! 😀

Vid, what I have heard the SUPER HERO minifigs will be in sets. So far there is no information what sets are going to be released, but as we get closer to the release date, I’m sure we will get some leaked and/or official info. 😉

Ok, so for DC it says that “13 iconic super heroes will be available in minifigure form” but that- Batman, The Joker, and Green Lantern will be “buildable characters”… What does that mean exactly? And how do these “buildable characters” differ from the other ones listed? Thanks.

Jay, some of the LEGO SUPER HEROES will also have a larger version (kind of like the LEGO Bionicle and Hero Factory figs). I have posted an update with pictures of the large figs here: More LEGO Super Heroes News

Please note that these figs will have both a large and a regular minfig version. I guess more is better when it comes to super heroes! 😉

Bryson, that’s areally good question! Here are some ways to look at it:

If the new sets are going to be quite similar to the old sets (Batmobile, Batcave, Asylum, etc.) – which my guess is they will be – sellers of the old sets will have two choices:

1. Drop their prices significantly to try to attract Batman fans who are buying the new sets. This may be rough though and would likely mean making little profit if anything. (The old Batman sets are not like Classic Space sets with unique elements and colors. There is just a lot less appeal.)

2. Keep their prices up and continue to appeal to collectors. I believe this is only going to be succesful if the old sets they carry are boxed and in mint condition.

If I would be holding Batman sets as a BrickLink or eBay seller, and if the sets are in used condition with no instrucions and box, I would sell them at this holiday season. Most of the public doesn’t know yet that there are going to be new LEGO Batman sets next year, so sellers could still get great prices.

If I would have mint condition old Batman sets, I may keep my prices up, which may mean I would not sell them for a while, but I could make a better profit when the right buyer shows up.

From the buyer’s perspective, if I would be interested in an old Batman set, I would wait until the new ones hit the market. I know that some sellers will freak out and drop their prices significantly to try to get rid of the old sets.

Of course these are just my thoughts on the matter, but I hope they give you some ideas! Let me know what you think! 😉

Bryson, 2012 will be the first year of the collaboration between LEGO and DC and Marvel Comics. There has been no information yet which sets will be avilable and when. They are still in the making. Also, they will not be released all at one time, but in waves, like other LEGO sets. I’m expecing the first wave to be in April, which means we should start to get more solid info by the beginning of next year, maybe even by December. Hope this helps some! 😉

I’m gonna confess here, bsuacee my wife never reads my comments here.Yesterday I took my kids to Wal-mart looking for something irrelevant. While there, we found the game demos open. I got immediately sucked into Infamous 2, having never heard of the series before. It looks like a fun game. Both my daughters were originally sucked into the Wii Mario Baseball or something like that but eventually both of them wandered over and took a turn at Infamous. Neither of them could really figure out how to control it, bsuacee we don’t have a console at home so they’ve never been exposed, really. But after a short lesson, my 6 year old was beating the crap out of the bad guys with the static bludgeoning rod and laughing the whole time. We worked as a team so I moved her around and she worked the smash and jump buttons.I feel both guilty for exposing her to violence like that, and proud ’cause she was whompin’ their asses and lovin’ it.So that’s my gaming story for the month.

Bryson, that’s a good question. There has been some news that Harrison Ford would like to make another Indy movie, but the guy is getting so old! There is nothing wrong with being old, but Ford needs to embrace different roles than trying to pretend he is still a young hunk. 😛

Anyhow, if there is any new movies the licence with LEGO is likely to be renewed. So, it is still up to the old man. 😉

Matthew, yes, the LEGO SUPER HEROES line is very exciting! Please note that if you scroll down in the post towards the bottom, there are two images of the upcoming Green Lantern minifig. In addition Green Lantern will also come in a large version. See the post on the large figs here: More LEGO Super Heroes News

Yeah, I saw that figure and I like it a lot!!
I also have the minifigure from Comic Con a friend got me when he went.
I am just hoping I see a Great Power Battery lego playset, or a Guardians Citadel playset for Green Lantern….. 😉

Bryson, the Batman figs have been around. LEGO has been giving them out at recent toy-fairs. Some people keep them, some people sell them on BrickLink or eBay for outrageous prices. But if someone really wants one they are available. 😉

Bryson, Comic-Con is actually not a LEGO event, but a comic books convention. LEGO has been going to the recent ones because of its collaboration with Marvel and DC Comics. Comic-Cons are yearly events in cities like San Diego, New York, Dallas, Baltimore, London, etc.

Bob, I’m not familiar with the Australian LEGO market, but this is a major contract for LEGO, so I assume the sets will be available all over the LEGO market. I would also recommend you check out this Australian LEGO blog: http://www.thebricklife.com. The blogger’s name is Inger, and she is very much up on what is available for you guys down under. 😉